Short pendant arm linkers for nucleotides in sequencing applications

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to new nucleotide and oligonucleotide compounds and their use in nucleic acid sequencing applications.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority to United Kingdom(GB) Application No. 1711219.4, filed Jul. 12, 2017, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates to new nucleotide and oligonucleotidecompounds and their use in nucleic acid sequencing applications.

Description of the Related Art

As sequencing technology advances a need has developed for improvedsequencing reagents which are amenable particularly to high throughputmolecular methods such as solid phase sequencing and the like.

In certain types of high-throughput sequencing, the nucleotides usedcontain fluorophores which specifically identify the incorporated base.The fluorophore can be attached to the nucleotide base through acleavable linker. Therefore after the incorporated base is identified,the linker can be cleaved, allowing the fluorophore to be removed readyfor the next base to be attached and identified. Such a cleavage leavesa remaining “scar” or “pendant arm” moiety located on each of thedetected nucleobases. Whilst it is possible to design reagents that donot leave any trace following cleavage, these tend to be slow to cleaveand hence are not particularly efficacious. A balance needs to be foundbetween efficient incorporation of the labeled nucleotides, efficientcleavage to remove all the incorporated labels, and efficientincorporation of the following nucleotide. Described herein in areoptimized nucleotide structures that improve the performance of priorart nucleotides in Sequencing-by-Synthesis (SBS) cycles.

Suitable nucleotide linkers are described in for example WO2004/018493.Compounds disclosed therein are shown as example formula (e):

wherein B is a nucleoside base; and Fl is a fluorophore attached throughan optional linker. This is cleaved to leave a pendant arm moiety offormula (ei):

Applicants have realized that alterations to the pendant arm can giveimprovements to the sequencing data obtained.

Described herein are improved nucleotide structures and their use insequencing. The molecules described can be incorporated into nucleicacid strands. Described also are nucleic acid strands having certainmodifications which allow for more efficient nucleotide incorporation.Also described are nucleic acid arrays and the use thereof insequencing. Particular improvements can be seen in the efficiency oflabelled nucleotide incorporation and length and accuracy of sequencingread obtainable using the new constructs. The molecules described beloware particularly advantageous in situations where long read lengths arerequired, or where shorter nucleotide incorporation times areadvantageous. high power excitation sources are used.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to improved reagents for nucleic acidsequencing. During repeated cycles of sequencing-by-synthesis (SBS)where fluorescently labelled nucleotides are incorporated into anextended nucleic acid strand, a “scarred” DNA primer:template isproduced. The “scar” or “pendant arm”, is a moiety located on each ofthe detected nucleobases, resulting from the chemical cleavage of thefluorophore from the nucleobase to which it is attached. These pendantarms accumulate on the DNA primer:template over the repeated SBS cycles,producing a primer:template DNA molecule with molecular structure thatdiffers from a natural DNA primer:template. These residual pendant armsslow down the incorporation of the new incoming nucleotide and,therefore increase the error rate, and lower the data quality,especially at the later stages of a sequencing run and over longsequencing runs. FIG. 1 exemplifies the formation of a scarred orpendant arm DNA primer:template during sequencing. The presentdisclosure aims at minimizing the size of pendant arm left on DNAprimer:template during sequencing.

According to a first aspect this disclosure provides compounds of theformula (I):

wherein B is a nucleoside base; and Fl is a fluorophore attached throughan optional linker.

Nucleosides are compounds having a carbohydrate ribose attached to anucleobase. The nucleobase can be a purine or a pyrimidine. The commonnaturally occurring purines are adenine (A) and guanine (G). The commonnaturally occurring pyrimidines are cytidine (C) and thymine (T) in DNAstrands or uracil (U) in RNA strands. The ribose can be a 2′-deoxyribose(in DNA). A nucleoside having a phosphate moiety attached thereto is anucleotide, and thus the compounds described herein can be in the formof a nucleotide. In any formulas described herein, B can represent anucleotide base.

In any formulas described herein, B can represent a pyrimidine base. Thebase B can take the form of any of the four common naturally occurringbases, A, G, C or T/U. The phosphate moiety can be a triphosphatemoiety, which can be attached to the 5′-position of the ribose.Compounds of the present disclosure can include compounds of thefollowing formula (c), formula (t) or formula (a):

wherein p is a triphosphate group; and Fl is a fluorophore attachedthrough an optional linker.

The triphosphate moiety allows incorporation of the nucleotide compoundinto a nucleic acid. Extension using a nucleic acid polymerase allowsattachment of the compound to the 3′-OH of a nucleic acid primer. Thuscompounds of the present disclosure can be attached to an oligonucleicacid. The oligonucleotide can take the form of a nucleic acid primerwhich has undergone polymerase extension to incorporate a compound ofthe present disclosure. Thus disclosed herein is an oligonucleotidecomprising a compound as disclosed herein.

Disclosed is a nucleotide compounds attached to an oligonucleotide.Where the compound is fluorescently labelled, generally only a singlemodified compound would be attached to each oligonucleotide. Thusdisclosed is an oligonucleotide where the 3′-nucleotide is a compound offormula (I):

wherein B is a nucleoside base; and Fl is a fluorophore attached throughan optional linker.

For the avoidance of doubt it is appreciated that upon incorporation thetriphosphate group is converted to a monophosphate diester. Thusdisclosed is an oligonucleotide where the 3′-nucleotide is a compound offormula (c), formula (t) or formula (a):

wherein p is a monophosphate group; and Fl is a fluorophore attachedthrough an optional linker.

Compounds above can alternately be represented as an oligonucleotidewhere the 3′-nucleotide is a compound of formula (c), formula (t) orformula (a):

wherein Oln is an oligonucleotide; and Fl is a fluorophore attachedthrough an optional linker.

Upon detection of the nucleobase incorporated, the fluorescent label andoptional linker can be removed. The removal is carried out by reductionof the azido group, leading to fragmentation of the O-CHNH₂-moiety. Uponcleavage a hydroxyl group is left attached to the nucleobase and thefluorescent moiety is detached.

Thus disclosed is a compound of the formula (II):

wherein B is a nucleotide base.

The nucleobase can be a purine or a pyrimidine. The common naturallyoccurring purines are adenine (A) and guanine (G). The common naturallyoccurring pyrimidines are cytidine (C) and thymine (T) in DNA strands oruracil (U) in RNA strands. The ribose can be a 2′-deoxyribose (in DNA).

The compound of formula II can be attached to an oligonucleotide. Thusmoiety B can be a base attached to further bases. Thus disclosed is anoligonucleotide where the 3′-nucleotide is a compound of formula (ci),formula (ti) or formula (ai):

wherein Oln is an oligonucleotide.

The oligonucleotide having the hydroxyl pendant arm can have multiplependant arms on the same oligonucleotide. The bases modified with thependant arms would usually be contiguous in a sequence. Disclosed is anoligonucleotide comprising two or more copies of a compound according toformula (II). Disclosed is an oligonucleotide comprising ten or morecopies of a compound according to formula (II). Disclosed is anoligonucleotide comprising one hundred or more copies of a compoundaccording to formula (II).

Incorporation of nucleotides can be performed using solutions havingmore than one type of nucleotide. Thus disclosed is a kit comprising twoor more nucleotides wherein at least one nucleotide is a labellednucleotide as described herein. The kit may comprise two or morenucleotides wherein at least two nucleotides are labelled nucleotides asdescribed herein. The kit may comprise four nucleotides wherein at leasttwo nucleotides are labelled nucleotides as described herein.

The nucleosides, nucleotides, oligonucleotides and kits as describedherein can be used in sequencing, expression analysis, hybridizationanalysis, genetic analysis, RNA analysis, or protein binding assays, orcombinations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the formation of scarred or pendant arm DNAprimer:template during sequencing.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the structure of short pendant armfully functionalized nucleotide (ffN) used during sequencing.

FIG. 3 illustrates examples of four short pendant arm nucleotides for2-channel SBS sequencing.

FIGS. 4A-4C demonstrate an example of the sequencing metrics observedwith the standard and the short-pendant arm nucleotides on a 2-channelmodified Hiseq® with two different polymerases (PolA and PolB) and twodifferent template libraries (PhiX and human).

FIGS. 5A and 5B demonstrate an example of the sequencing metricsobserved with either the standard or the short-pendant arm nucleotideson a 2-channel modified Miseq®.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure provides novel compounds particularly suitable formethods of fluorescence detection and sequencing by synthesis. Compoundshaving a shortened residual pendant arm improve certain nucleic acidsequencing applications.

According to a first aspect this disclosure provides compounds of theformula (I)

wherein B is a nucleoside base; and Fl is a fluorophore attached throughan optional linker.

Nucleosides are compounds have a carbohydrate ribose attached to anucleobase. The nucleobase can be a purine or a pyrimidine. The commonnaturally occurring purines are adenine (A) and guanine (G). The commonnaturally occurring pyrimidines are cytidine (C) and thymine (T) in DNAstrands or uracil (U) in RNA strands. The ribose can be a 2′-deoxyribose(in DNA). A nucleoside having a phosphate moiety attached thereto is anucleotide, and thus the compounds described herein can be in the formof a nucleotide. In any formulas described herein, B can represent anucleotide base.

Fl is a fluorophore. Thus the compounds of the present disclosure arefluorescently labelled. The nature of the fluorophore is not importantand can include compounds selected from any known fluorescent species,for example rhodamines or cyanines. The fluorophore can be attached tothe nucleobase via an optional linker. The function of the linker isgenerally to aid chemical attachment of the fluorophore to thenucleotide. The linker can be for example an alkyl chain optionallyhaving one or more heteroatom replacements. The linker may contain amideor ester groups in order to facilitate chemical coupling reactions. Thelinker may be synthesized using click chemistry. The linker may containtriazole groups. The linker may contain other aryl groups.

Examples of linkers may include species such as the following:

where n is an integer from 2 to 6 and Fl is a fluorophore.

The ribose moiety of the nucleoside or nucleotide may be a ribose ordeoxyribose. The ribose may have one or more 2′ or 3′ blocking groups inorder to limit incorporation to a single nucleotide. The blocking groupmay be an azidomethyl group. The ribose may be a 2′-deoxyribose having a3′-azidomethyl blocking group. The blocking group may be an allyl group.The ribose may be a 2′-deoxyribose having a 3′-allyl blocking group.

In any formulas described herein, B can represent a pyrimidine base. Thebase B can take the form of any of the four common naturally occurringbases, A, G, C or T/U. The phosphate moiety can be a triphosphatemoiety, which can be attached to the 5′-position of the ribose.Compounds of the present disclosure can include compounds of thefollowing formula (cl), formula (tl) or formula (al):

wherein p is a triphosphate group; n is an integer from 2 to 6; and Flis a fluorophore.

The triphosphate moiety allows incorporation of the nucleotide compoundinto a nucleic acid. Extension using a nucleic acid polymerase allowsattachment of the compound to the 3′-OH of a nucleic acid primer. Thuscompounds of the present disclosure can be attached to an oligonucleicacid. The oligonucleotide can take the form of a nucleic acid primerwhich has undergone polymerase extension to incorporate a compound ofthe present disclosure. Thus disclosed herein is an oligonucleotidecomprising a compound as disclosed herein.

Disclosed is a nucleotide compounds attached to an oligonucleotide.Where the compound is fluorescently labelled, generally only a singlemodified compound would be attached to each oligonucleotide. Thusdisclosed is an oligonucleotide where the 3′-nucleotide is a compound offormula (III):

wherein B is a nucleoside base; n is an integer from 2 to 6; and Fl is afluorophore.

For the avoidance of doubt it is appreciated that upon incorporation thetriphosphate group is converted to a monophosphate di-ester. Thusdisclosed is an oligonucleotide where the 3′-nucleotide is a compound offormula (cl), formula (tl) or formula (al):

wherein p is a monophosphate group; n is an integer from 2 to 6; and Flis a fluorophore.

Compounds above can alternately be represented as an oligonucleotidewhere the 3′-nucleotide is a compound of formula (cl), formula (tl) orformula (al):

wherein Oln is an oligonucleotide; n is an integer from 2 to 6; and Flis a fluorophore.

In any of the examples given; n can equal 2 to 6. In any of the examplesgiven; n can equal 2. In any of the examples given; n can equal 3. Inany of the examples given; n can equal 4. In any of the examples given;n can equal 5. In any of the examples given; n can equal 6.

Upon detection of the nucleobase incorporated, the fluorescent label andoptional linker can be removed. The removal is carried out by reductionof the azido group, leading to fragmentation of the O-CHNH₂-moiety. Uponcleavage a hydroxyl group is left attached to the nucleobase and thefluorescent moiety is detached.

Thus disclosed is a compound of the formula (II):

wherein B is a nucleotide base.

The nucleobase can be a purine or a pyrimidine. The common naturallyoccurring purines are adenine (A) and guanine (G). The common naturallyoccurring pyrimidines are cytidine (C) and thymine (T) in DNA strands oruracil (U) in RNA strands. The ribose can be a 2′-deoxyribose (in DNA).

The compound of formula II can be attached to an oligonucleotide. Thusmoiety B can be a base attached to further bases. Thus disclosed is anoligonucleotide where the 3′-nucleotide is a compound of formula (ci),formula (ti) or formula (ai):

wherein Oln is an oligonucleotide.

The oligonucleotide having the hydroxyl pendant arm can have multiplependant arms on the same oligonucleotide. The bases modified with thependant arms would usually be contiguous in a sequence. Disclosed is anoligonucleotide comprising two or more copies of a compound according toformula (II). Disclosed is an oligonucleotide comprising ten or morecopies of a compound according to formula (II). Disclosed is anoligonucleotide comprising one hundred or more copies of a compoundaccording to formula (II).

Incorporation of nucleotides can be performed using solutions havingmore than one type of nucleotide. Thus disclosed is a kit comprising twoor more nucleotides wherein at least one nucleotide is a labellednucleotide as described herein. The kit may comprise two or morenucleotides wherein at least two nucleotides are labelled nucleotides asdescribed herein. The kit may comprise four nucleotides wherein at leasttwo nucleotides are labelled nucleotides as described herein.

The nucleosides, nucleotides, oligonucleotides and kits as describedherein can be used in sequencing, expression analysis, hybridizationanalysis, genetic analysis, RNA analysis or protein binding assays, orcombinations thereof.

Provided herein are kits including two or more nucleotides wherein atleast one nucleotide is a nucleotide of the present disclosure. The kitmay include two or more labelled nucleotides. The nucleotides may belabelled with two or more fluorescent labels. Two or more of the labelsmay be excited using a single excitation source, which may be a laser.For example, the excitation bands for the two or more labels may be atleast partially overlapping such that excitation in the overlap regionof the spectrum causes both labels to emit fluorescence. In particularembodiments, the emission from the two or more labels will occur indifferent regions of the spectrum such that presence of at least one ofthe labels can be determined by optically distinguishing the emission.

The kit may contain four labelled nucleotides, where the first of fournucleotides is as disclosed herein. In such a kit, the second, third,and fourth nucleotides can each be labelled with a compound that isoptionally spectrally different from the label on the first nucleotideand optionally spectrally different from the labels on each other. Thus,one or more of the compounds can have a distinct absorbance maximumand/or emission maximum such that the compound(s) is(are)distinguishable from other compounds. For example, each compound canhave a distinct absorbance maximum and/or emission maximum such thateach of the compounds is distinguishable from the other three compounds.It will be understood that parts of the absorbance spectrum and/oremission spectrum other than the maxima can differ and these differencescan be exploited to distinguish the compounds. The kit may be such thattwo or more of the compounds have a distinct absorbance maximum above600 nm. The compounds of the invention typically absorb light in theregion above 640 nm.

The compounds, nucleotides or kits that are set forth herein may be usedto detect, measure or identify a biological system (including, forexample, processes or components thereof). Exemplary techniques that canemploy the compounds, nucleotides or kits include sequencing, expressionanalysis, hybridization analysis, genetic analysis, RNA analysis,cellular assay (e.g. cell binding or cell function analysis), or proteinassay (e.g. protein binding assay or protein activity assay). The usemay be on an automated instrument for carrying out a particulartechnique, such as an automated sequencing instrument. The sequencinginstrument may contain two lasers operating at different wavelengths.

The present disclosure provides conjugates of fluorescently labellednucleosides and nucleotides (modified nucleotides). Labelled nucleosidesand nucleotides are useful for labelling polynucleotides formed byenzymatic synthesis, such as, by way of non-limiting example, in PCRamplification, isothermal amplification, solid phase amplification,polynucleotide sequencing (e.g. solid phase sequencing), nicktranslation reactions and the like.

Nucleosides and nucleotides may be labelled at sites on the sugar ornucleobase. As known in the art, a “nucleotide” consists of anitrogenous base, a sugar, and one or more phosphate groups. In RNA thesugar is ribose and in DNA is a deoxyribose, i.e. a sugar lacking ahydroxyl group that is present in ribose. The nitrogenous base is aderivative of purine or pyrimidine. The purines can be adenine (A) orguanine (G), and the pyrimidines can be cytosine (C), thymine (T) or inthe context of RNA, uracil (U). The C-1 atom of deoxyribose is bonded toN-1 of a pyrimidine or N-9 of a purine. A nucleotide is also a phosphateester of a nucleoside, with esterification occurring on the hydroxylgroup attached to the C-3 or C-5 of the sugar. Nucleotides are usuallymono, di- or triphosphates.

A “nucleoside” is structurally similar to a nucleotide but is missingthe phosphate moieties. An example of a nucleoside analog would be onein which the label is linked to the base and there is no phosphate groupattached to the sugar molecule.

Although the base is usually referred to as a purine or pyrimidine, theskilled person will appreciate that derivatives and analogues areavailable which do not alter the capability of the nucleotide ornucleoside to undergo Watson-Crick base pairing. “Derivative” or“analogue” means a compound or molecule whose core structure is the sameas, or closely resembles that of a parent compound but which has achemical or physical modification, such as, for example, a different oradditional side group, which allows the derivative nucleotide ornucleoside to be linked to another molecule. For example, the base maybe a deazapurine. In particular embodiments, the derivatives are capableof undergoing Watson-Crick pairing. “Derivative” and “analogue” alsoinclude, for example, a synthetic nucleotide or nucleoside derivativehaving modified base moieties and/or modified sugar moieties. Suchderivatives and analogues are discussed in, for example, Scheit,Nucleotide analogs (John Wiley & Son, 1980) and Uhlman et al., ChemicalReviews 90:543-584, 1990. Nucleotide analogues can also have modifiedphosphodiester linkages including phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate,alkyl-phosphonate, phosphoranilidate, phosphoramidate linkages and thelike.

The fluorophore may be attached to any position on a nucleotide base,for example, through a linker. In particular embodiments Watson-Crickbase pairing can still be carried out for the resulting analogue.Particular nucleobase labelling sites include the C5 position of apyrimidine base or the C7 position of a 7-deaza purine base. Asdescribed above a linker group may be used to covalently attach a dye tothe nucleoside or nucleotide. In particular embodiments the labellednucleoside or nucleotide may be enzymatically incorporable andenzymatically extendable. Accordingly a linker moiety may be ofsufficient length to connect the nucleotide to the compound such thatthe compound does not significantly interfere with the overall bindingand recognition of the nucleotide by a nucleic acid replication enzyme.Thus, the linker can also comprise a spacer unit. The spacer distances,for example, the nucleotide base from a cleavage site or label.

Nucleosides or nucleotides labelled according to the disclosure may havethe formula:

Where Dye is a fluorescent compound, B is a nucleobase, such as, forexample uracil, thymine, cytosine, adenine, guanine and the like and Lis an optional linker group which may or may not be present. R′ can beH, monophosphate, diphosphate, triphosphate, thiophosphate, a phosphateester analog, —O— attached to a reactive phosphorous containing group or—O— protected by a blocking group. R″ can be H, OH, a phosphoramidite ora 3′OH blocking group and R′″ is H or OH. Where R″ is phosphoramidite,R′ is an acid-cleavable hydroxyl protecting group which allowssubsequent monomer coupling under automated synthesis conditions.

In another alternative embodiment there is no blocking group on the 3′carbon of the pentose sugar and the dye (or dye and linker construct)attached to the base, for example, can be of a size or structuresufficient to act as a block to the incorporation of a furthernucleotide. Thus the block can be due to steric hindrance or can be dueto a combination of size, charge and structure, whether or not the dyeis attached to the 3′ position of the sugar.

In another alternative embodiment the blocking group is present on the2′ or 4′ carbon of the pentose sugar and can be of a size or structuresufficient to act as a block to the incorporation of a furthernucleotide.

The use of a blocking group allows polymerization to be controlled, suchas by stopping extension when a modified nucleotide is incorporated. Ifthe blocking effect is reversible, for example by way of non-limitingexample by changing chemical conditions or by removal of a chemicalblock, extension can be stopped at certain points and then allowed tocontinue.

In another particular embodiment a 3′OH blocking group will comprisemoieties disclosed in WO2004/018497. For example the blocking group maybe azidomethyl (CH₂N₃) or allyl.

In a particular embodiment a linker (between dye and nucleotide) and ablocking group are both present and are separate moieties. In particularembodiments the linker and blocking group are both cleavable undersubstantially similar conditions. Thus deprotection and deblockingprocesses may be more efficient since only a single treatment will berequired to remove both the dye compound and the block. However, in someembodiments a linker and blocking group need not be cleavable undersimilar conditions, instead being individually cleavable under distinctconditions.

This disclosure also encompasses polynucleotides incorporatingfluorescent compounds. Such polynucleotides may be DNA or RNA comprisedrespectively of deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides joined inphosphodiester linkage. Polynucleotides according to the disclosure maycomprise naturally occurring nucleotides, non-naturally occurring (ormodified) nucleotides other than the modified nucleotides of thedisclosure or any combination thereof, in combination with at least onemodified nucleotide (e.g. labelled with a dye compound) set forthherein. Polynucleotides according to the disclosure may also includenon-natural backbone linkages and/or non-nucleotide chemicalmodifications. Chimeric structures comprised of mixtures ofribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides comprising at least onemodified nucleotide according to the disclosure are also contemplated.

Modified nucleotides (or nucleosides) comprising a fluorescent compoundaccording to the present disclosure may be used in any method ofanalysis such as methods that include detection of a fluorescent labelattached to a nucleotide or nucleoside, whether on its own orincorporated into or associated with a larger molecular structure orconjugate. In this context the term “incorporated into a polynucleotide”can mean that the 5′ phosphate is joined in phosphodiester linkage tothe 3′ hydroxyl group of a second (modified or unmodified) nucleotide,which may itself form part of a longer polynucleotide chain. The 3′ endof a modified nucleotide set forth herein may or may not be joined inphosphodiester linkage to the 5′ phosphate of a further (modified orunmodified) nucleotide. Thus, in one non-limiting embodiment thedisclosure provides a method of detecting a modified nucleotideincorporated into a polynucleotide which comprises: (a) incorporating atleast one modified nucleotide of the disclosure into a polynucleotideand (b) detecting the modified nucleotide(s) incorporated into thepolynucleotide by detecting the fluorescent signal from the dye compoundattached to said modified nucleotide(s).

This method can include: a synthetic step (a) in which one or moremodified nucleotides according to the disclosure are incorporated into apolynucleotide and a detection step (b) in which one or more modifiednucleotide(s) incorporated into the polynucleotide are detected bydetecting or quantitatively measuring their fluorescence.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure at least one modifiednucleotide is incorporated into a polynucleotide in a synthetic step bythe action of a polymerase enzyme. However, other methods of joiningmodified nucleotides to polynucleotides, such as for example chemicaloligonucleotide synthesis or ligation of labelled oligonucleotides tounlabelled oligonucleotides can be used. Therefore, the term“incorporating”, when used in reference to a nucleotide andpolynucleotide, can encompass polynucleotide synthesis by chemicalmethods as well as enzymatic methods.

In a specific embodiment a synthetic step is carried out and mayoptionally comprise incubating a template polynucleotide strand with areaction mixture comprising fluorescently labelled modified nucleotidesof the disclosure. A polymerase can also be provided under conditionswhich permit formation of a phosphodiester linkage between a free 3′hydroxyl group on a polynucleotide strand annealed to the templatepolynucleotide strand and a 5′ phosphate group on the modifiednucleotide. Thus, a synthetic step can include formation of apolynucleotide strand as directed by complementary base-pairing ofnucleotides to a template strand.

In all embodiments of the method, the detection step may be carried outwhilst the polynucleotide strand into which the modified nucleotides areincorporated is annealed to a template strand, or after a denaturationstep in which the two strands are separated. Further steps, for examplechemical or enzymatic reaction steps or purification steps, may beincluded between a synthetic step and a detection step. In particular,the target strand incorporating the modified nucleotide(s) may beisolated or purified and then processed further or used in a subsequentanalysis. By way of example, target polynucleotides labelled withmodified nucleotide(s) in a synthetic step may be subsequently used aslabelled probes or primers. In other embodiments the product of asynthetic step set forth herein may be subject to further reaction stepsand, if desired, the product of these subsequent steps can be purifiedor isolated.

Suitable conditions for a synthetic step will be well known to thosefamiliar with standard molecular biology techniques. In one embodiment asynthetic step may be analogous to a standard primer extension reactionusing nucleotide precursors, including modified nucleotides set forthherein, to form an extended target strand complementary to the templatestrand in the presence of a suitable polymerase enzyme. In otherembodiments a synthetic step may itself form part of an amplificationreaction producing a labelled double stranded amplification productcomprised of annealed complementary strands derived from copying oftarget and template polynucleotide strands. Other exemplary syntheticsteps include nick translation, strand displacement polymerisation,random primed DNA labelling etc. A particularly useful polymerase enzymefor a synthetic step is one that is capable of catalysing theincorporation of one or more of the modified nucleotides set forthherein. A variety of naturally occurring or modified polymerases can beused. By way of example, a thermostable polymerase can be used for asynthetic reaction that is carried out using thermocycling conditions,whereas a thermostable polymerase may not be desired for isothermalprimer extension reactions. Suitable thermostable polymerases which arecapable of incorporating the modified nucleotides according to thedisclosure include those described in WO 2005/024010 or W006120433. Insynthetic reactions which are carried out at lower temperatures such as37° C., polymerase enzymes need not necessarily be thermostablepolymerases, therefore the choice of polymerase will depend on a numberof factors such as reaction temperature, pH, strand-displacing activityand the like.

In specific non-limiting embodiments the disclosure encompasses methodsof nucleic acid sequencing, re-sequencing, whole genome sequencing,single nucleotide polymorphism scoring, or any other applicationinvolving the detection of the modified nucleotide or nucleosidelabelled with dyes set forth herein when incorporated into apolynucleotide. Any of a variety of other applications benefitting fromthe use of polynucleotides labelled with the modified nucleotidescomprising fluorophores can use modified nucleotides or nucleosideslabelled with dyes set forth herein.

In a particular embodiment the disclosure provides use of modifiednucleotides according to the disclosure in a polynucleotidesequencing-by-synthesis reaction. Sequencing-by-synthesis generallyinvolves sequential addition of one or more nucleotides oroligonucleotides to a growing polynucleotide chain in the 5′ to 3′direction using a polymerase or ligase in order to form an extendedpolynucleotide chain complementary to the template nucleic acid to besequenced. The identity of the base present in one or more of the addednucleotide(s) can be determined in a detection or “imaging” step. Theidentity of the added base may be determined after each nucleotideincorporation step. The sequence of the template may then be inferredusing conventional Watson-Crick base-pairing rules. The use of themodified nucleotides labelled with dyes set forth herein fordetermination of the identity of a single base may be useful, forexample, in the scoring of single nucleotide polymorphisms, and suchsingle base extension reactions are within the scope of this disclosure.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sequence of a templatepolynucleotide is determined by detecting the incorporation of one ormore nucleotides into a nascent strand complementary to the templatepolynucleotide to be sequenced through the detection of fluorescentlabel(s) attached to the incorporated nucleotide(s). Sequencing of thetemplate polynucleotide can be primed with a suitable primer (orprepared as a hairpin construct which will contain the primer as part ofthe hairpin), and the nascent chain is extended in a stepwise manner byaddition of nucleotides to the 3′ end of the primer in apolymerase-catalyzed reaction.

In particular embodiments each of the different nucleotide triphosphates(A, T, G and C) may be labelled with a unique fluorophore and alsocomprises a blocking group at the 3′ position to prevent uncontrolledpolymerization. Alternatively one of the four nucleotides may beunlabelled (dark). The polymerase enzyme incorporates a nucleotide intothe nascent chain complementary to the template polynucleotide, and theblocking group prevents further incorporation of nucleotides. Anyunincorporated nucleotides can be washed away and the fluorescent signalfrom each incorporated nucleotide can be “read” optically by suitablemeans, such as a charge-coupled device using laser excitation andsuitable emission filters. The 3′-blocking group and fluorophorecompounds can then be removed (deprotected), (simultaneously orsequentially) to expose the nascent chain for further nucleotideincorporation. Typically the identity of the incorporated nucleotidewill be determined after each incorporation step but this is notstrictly essential. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,509 discloses amethod to sequence polynucleotides immobilized on a solid support.

The method, as exemplified above, utilizes the incorporation offluorescently labelled, 3′-blocked nucleotides A, G, C and T into agrowing strand complementary to the immobilized polynucleotide, in thepresence of DNA polymerase. The polymerase incorporates a basecomplementary to the target polynucleotide, but is prevented fromfurther addition by the 3′-blocking group. The label of the incorporatednucleotide can then be determined and the blocking group removed bychemical cleavage to allow further polymerization to occur. The nucleicacid template to be sequenced in a sequencing-by-synthesis reaction maybe any polynucleotide that it is desired to sequence. The nucleic acidtemplate for a sequencing reaction will typically comprise a doublestranded region having a free 3′ hydroxyl group which serves as a primeror initiation point for the addition of further nucleotides in thesequencing reaction. The region of the template to be sequenced willoverhang this free 3′ hydroxyl group on the complementary strand. Theoverhanging region of the template to be sequenced may be singlestranded but can be double-stranded, provided that a “nick is present”on the strand complementary to the template strand to be sequenced toprovide a free 3′ OH group for initiation of the sequencing reaction. Insuch embodiments sequencing may proceed by strand displacement. Incertain embodiments a primer bearing the free 3′ hydroxyl group may beadded as a separate component (e.g. a short oligonucleotide) whichhybridizes to a single-stranded region of the template to be sequenced.Alternatively, the primer and the template strand to be sequenced mayeach form part of a partially self-complementary nucleic acid strandcapable of forming an intra-molecular duplex, such as for example ahairpin loop structure. Hairpin polynucleotides and methods by whichthey may be attached to solid supports are disclosed in Internationalapplication publication nos. WO0157248 and WO2005/047301. Nucleotidescan be added successively to a growing primer, resulting in synthesis ofa polynucleotide chain in the 5′ to 3′ direction. The nature of the basewhich has been added may be determined, particularly but not necessarilyafter each nucleotide addition, thus providing sequence information forthe nucleic acid template. Thus, a nucleotide is incorporated into anucleic acid strand (or polynucleotide) by joining of the nucleotide tothe free 3′ hydroxyl group of the nucleic acid strand via formation of aphosphodiester linkage with the 5′ phosphate group of the nucleotide.

The nucleic acid template to be sequenced may be DNA or RNA, or even ahybrid molecule comprised of deoxynucleotides and ribonucleotides. Thenucleic acid template may comprise naturally occurring and/ornon-naturally occurring nucleotides and natural or non-natural backbonelinkages, provided that these do not prevent copying of the template inthe sequencing reaction.

In certain embodiments the nucleic acid template to be sequenced may beattached to a solid support via any suitable linkage method known in theart, for example via covalent attachment. In certain embodimentstemplate polynucleotides may be attached directly to a solid support(e.g. a silica-based support). However, in other embodiments of thedisclosure the surface of the solid support may be modified in some wayso as to allow either direct covalent attachment of templatepolynucleotides, or to immobilize the template polynucleotides through ahydrogel or polyelectrolyte multilayer, which may itself benon-covalently attached to the solid support.

Arrays in which polynucleotides have been directly attached tosilica-based supports are those for example disclosed in WO00006770,wherein polynucleotides are immobilized on a glass support by reactionbetween a pendant epoxide group on the glass with an internal aminogroup on the polynucleotide. In addition, polynucleotides can beattached to a solid support by reaction of a sulphur-based nucleophilewith the solid support, for example, as described in WO2005/047301. Astill further example of solid-supported template polynucleotides iswhere the template polynucleotides are attached to hydrogel supportedupon silica-based or other solid supports, for example, as described inW000/31148, W001/01143, W002/12566, W003/014392, U.S. Pat. No. 6,465,178and W000/53812.

A particular surface to which template polynucleotides may beimmobilized is a polyacrylamide hydrogel. Polyacrylamide hydrogels aredescribed in the references cited above and in WO2005/065814.

DNA template molecules can be attached to beads or microparticles.Attachment to beads or microparticles can be useful for sequencingapplications. Bead libraries can be prepared where each bead containsdifferent DNA sequences. Exemplary libraries and methods for theircreation are described in Nature. 437, 376-380 (2005); Science. 309,5741, 1728-1732 (2005). Sequencing of arrays of such beads usingnucleotides set forth herein is within the scope of the disclosure.

Template(s) that are to be sequenced may form part of an “array” on asolid support, in which case the array may take any convenient form.Thus, the method of the disclosure is applicable to all types of highdensity arrays, including single-molecule arrays, clustered arrays andbead arrays. Modified nucleotides labelled with dye compounds of thepresent disclosure may be used for sequencing templates on essentiallyany type of array, including but not limited to those formed byimmobilization of nucleic acid molecules on a solid support.

However, the modified nucleotides of the disclosure are particularlyadvantageous in the context of sequencing of clustered arrays. Inclustered arrays, distinct regions on the array (often referred to assites, or features) comprise multiple polynucleotide template molecules.Generally, the multiple polynucleotide molecules are not individuallyresolvable by optical means and are instead detected as an ensemble.Depending on how the array is formed, each site on the array maycomprise multiple copies of one individual polynucleotide molecule (e.g.the site is homogenous for a particular single- or double-strandednucleic acid species) or even multiple copies of a small number ofdifferent polynucleotide molecules (e.g. multiple copies of twodifferent nucleic acid species). Clustered arrays of nucleic acidmolecules may be produced using techniques generally known in the art.By way of example, WO 98/44151 and WO00/18957, each of which isincorporated herein, describe methods of amplification of nucleic acidswherein both the template and amplification products remain immobilizedon a solid support in order to form arrays comprised of clusters or“colonies” of immobilized nucleic acid molecules. The nucleic acidmolecules present on the clustered arrays prepared according to thesemethods are suitable templates for sequencing using the modifiednucleotides labelled with dye compounds of the disclosure.

The modified nucleotides of the present disclosure are also useful insequencing of templates on single molecule arrays. The term “singlemolecule array” or “SMA” as used herein refers to a population ofpolynucleotide molecules, distributed (or arrayed) over a solid support,wherein the spacing of any individual polynucleotide from all others ofthe population is such that it is possible to individually resolve theindividual polynucleotide molecules. The target nucleic acid moleculesimmobilized onto the surface of the solid support can thus be capable ofbeing resolved by optical means in some embodiments. This means that oneor more distinct signals, each representing one polynucleotide, willoccur within the resolvable area of the particular imaging device used.

Single molecule detection may be achieved wherein the spacing betweenadjacent polynucleotide molecules on an array is at least 100 nm, moreparticularly at least 250 nm, still more particularly at least 300 nm,even more particularly at least 350 nm. Thus, each molecule isindividually resolvable and detectable as a single molecule fluorescentpoint, and fluorescence from said single molecule fluorescent point alsoexhibits single step photobleaching.

The terms “individually resolved” and “individual resolution” are usedherein to specify that, when visualized, it is possible to distinguishone molecule on the array from its neighboring molecules. Separationbetween individual molecules on the array will be determined, in part,by the particular technique used to resolve the individual molecules.The general features of single molecule arrays will be understood byreference to published applications WO00/06770 and WO 01/57248. Althoughone use of the modified nucleotides of the disclosure is insequencing-by-synthesis reactions, the utility of the modifiednucleotides is not limited to such methods. In fact, the nucleotides maybe used advantageously in any sequencing methodology which requiresdetection of fluorescent labels attached to nucleotides incorporatedinto a polynucleotide.

In particular, the modified nucleotides of the disclosure may be used inautomated fluorescent sequencing protocols, particularlyfluorophore-terminator cycle sequencing based on the chain terminationsequencing method of Sanger and co-workers. Such methods generally useenzymes and cycle sequencing to incorporate fluorescently labelleddideoxynucleotides in a primer extension sequencing reaction. So calledSanger sequencing methods, and related protocols (Sanger-type), utilizerandomized chain termination with labelled dideoxynucleotides.

The present disclosure also provides kits including modified nucleosidesand/or nucleotides labelled with fluorophores. Such kits will generallyinclude at least one modified nucleotide or nucleoside labelled as setforth herein together with at least one further component. The furthercomponent(s) may be one or more of the components identified in a methodset forth above or in the Examples section below. Some non-limitingexamples of components that can be combined into a kit of the presentdisclosure are set forth below.

In a particular embodiment, a kit can include at least one modifiednucleotide or nucleoside labelled as set forth herein together withmodified or unmodified nucleotides or nucleosides. For example, modifiednucleotides labelled according to the disclosure may be supplied incombination with unlabelled or native nucleotides, and/or withfluorescently labelled nucleotides or any combination thereof.Accordingly the kits may comprise modified nucleotides labelled withdyes according to the disclosure and modified nucleotides labelled withother, for example, prior art dye compounds. Combinations of nucleotidesmay be provided as separate individual components (e.g. one nucleotidetype per vessel or tube) or as nucleotide mixtures (e.g. two or morenucleotides mixed in the same vessel or tube).

Where kits comprise a plurality, particularly two, more particularlyfour, modified nucleotides labelled with a dye compound, the differentnucleotides may be labelled with different dye compounds, or one may bedark, with no dye compounds. Where the different nucleotides arelabelled with different dye compounds it is a feature of the kits thatsaid dye compounds are spectrally distinguishable fluorophores. As usedherein, the term “spectrally distinguishable fluorophores” refers tofluorophores that emit fluorescent energy at wavelengths that can bedistinguished by fluorescent detection equipment (for example, acommercial capillary based DNA sequencing platform) when two or moresuch dyes are present in one sample. When two modified nucleotideslabelled with fluorophore compounds are supplied in kit form, it is afeature of some embodiments that the spectrally distinguishablefluorophores can be excited at the same wavelength, such as, for exampleby the same laser. When four modified nucleotides labelled withfluorophore compounds are supplied in kit form, it is a feature of someembodiments that two of the spectrally distinguishable fluorophores canboth be excited at one wavelength and the other two spectrallydistinguishable dyes can both be excited at another wavelength.Particular excitation wavelengths are 532 nm, 630 nm to 700 nm,particularly 660 nm.

In one embodiment a kit includes a modified nucleotide labelled with acompound of the present disclosure and a second modified nucleotidelabelled with a second dye wherein the dyes have a difference inabsorbance maximum of at least 10 nm, particularly 20 nm to 50 nm. Moreparticularly the two dye compounds have Stokes shifts of between 15-40nm where “Stokes shift” is the distance between the peak absorption andpeak emission wavelengths.

In a further embodiment a kit can further include two other modifiednucleotides labelled with fluorophores wherein the dyes are excited bythe same laser at 488 nm to 550 nm, particularly 532 nm. The dyes canhave a difference in absorbance maximum of at least 10 nm, particularly20 nm to 50 nm. More particularly the two dye compounds can have Stokesshifts of between 20-40 nm. Still yet more particularly the two dyecompounds can have a different absorbance maximum below 640 nm,particularly below 600 nm. Particular dyes which are spectrallydistinguishable from polymethine dyes of the present disclosure andwhich meet the above criteria are polymethine analogues as described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,268,486 (for example Cy3) or WO 0226891 (Alexa 532;Molecular Probes A20106) or unsymmetrical polymethines as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,924,372. Alternative dyes include rhodamine analogues,for example tetramethyl rhodamine and analogues thereof.

In an alternative embodiment, the kits of the disclosure may containnucleotides where the same base is labelled with two differentcompounds. A first nucleotide may be labelled with a first fluorescentcompound, for example a ‘red’ fluorophore absorbing at greater than 650nm. A second nucleotide may be labelled with a spectrally distinctcompound, for example a ‘green’ fluorophore absorbing at less than 600nm. A third nucleotide may be labelled as a mixture of the firstfluorophore and the spectrally distinct compound, and the fourthnucleotide may be ‘dark’ and contain no label. In simple terms thereforethe nucleotides 1-4 may be labelled ‘green’, ‘red’, ‘red/green’, anddark. To simplify the instrumentation further, four nucleotides can belabelled with a two dyes excited with a single laser, and thus thelabelling of nucleotides 1-4 may be ‘red 1’, ‘red 2’ ‘red 1/red 2’, anddark or ‘green 1’, ‘green 2’ ‘green 1/green 2’, and dark.

Although kits are exemplified above in regard to configurations havingdifferent nucleotides that are labelled with different dye compounds, itwill be understood that kits can include 2, 3, 4 or more differentnucleotides that have the same dye compound.

In particular embodiments a kit may include a polymerase enzyme capableof catalyzing incorporation of the modified nucleotides into apolynucleotide. Other components to be included in such kits may includebuffers and the like. The modified nucleotides labelled with dyesaccording to the disclosure, and other any nucleotide componentsincluding mixtures of different nucleotides, may be provided in the kitin a concentrated form to be diluted prior to use. In such embodiments asuitable dilution buffer may also be included. Again, one or more of thecomponents identified in a method set forth herein can be included in akit of the present disclosure.

It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims,the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unlessexpressly and unequivocally limited to one referent. It will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various modifications and variationscan be made to various embodiments described herein without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the present teachings. Thus, it is intendedthat the various embodiments described herein cover other modificationsand variations within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

EXAMPLES

Additional embodiments are disclosed in further detail in the followingexamples, which are not in any way intended to limit the scope of theclaims.

Example 1 Synthesis of Short-Pendant Arm Nucleotide Triphosphate

Synthesis of Intermediate L2

The starting material L1 (1.07 g, 4 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrous DMF(15 mL), then placed under nitrogen at 0° C. in an ice bath.N,N-diisopropylethylamine (884 μOL, 4.8 mmol) was added, followed byPyBOP (2.29 g, 4.4 mmol). The reaction was stirred under nitrogen at 0°C. for 20 minutes. Then N-(5-aminopentyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide,trifluoroacetate salt (1.5 g, 4.8 mmol) was added, followed byN,N-diisopropylethylamine (1 mL, 5.4 mmol). The reaction was removedfrom the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Thesolvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue dissolved inethyl acetate (100 mL). The solution was extracted with 3×100 mL ofdiluted KHSO₄ aq. (pH=1), 1×50 mL of water, 2×100 mL of sat. NaHCO₃ aq.The organic phase was dried on Na₂SO₄ anhydrous and the solvent wasremoved under reduced pressure. The crude was purified by flashchromatography on silica gel (linear gradient of ethyl acetate in DCM,from 50% to 100%). L2 was isolated as a clear viscous oil (1.60 g, 3.59mmol, 90%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ (ppm) 7.45 (m, 1H, Ar CH), 7.33(m, 2H, Ar CH), 7.07 (m, 2H, Ar CH, NH), 6.57 (t, J=5.6 Hz, 1H, NH),4.85 (t, J=4.9 Hz, 1H, CH-N₃), 4.22 (dd, J=10.4, 5.1 Hz, 1H, CH₂—OAr),4.16 (dd, J=10.5, 4.7 Hz, 1H, CH₂—OAr), 4.00 (ddd, J=10.1, 4.9, 2.9 Hz,1H, CH₂—O), 3.83 (m, 2H, CH₂—OH), 3.75 (ddd, J=9.8, 6.6, 3.0 Hz, 1H,CH₂—O), 3.45 (q, J=6.7 Hz, 2H, CH₂—NH), 3.36 (q, J=6.6 Hz, 2H, CH₂—NH),2.78 (t, J=6.2 Hz, 1H, OH), 1.65 (m, 4H, CH₂—CH₂—NH), 1.41 (p, J=7.4,6.9 Hz, 2H, CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—NH). ¹⁹F NMR (376.5 MHz, CDCl₃): δ (ppm) −75.7.¹³C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl₃): δ (ppm) 167.5 (s), 158.2 (s), 137.5 (s), 135.9(s), 129.7 (d), 128.2 (d), 119.6 (d), 118.5 (d), 113.2 (d), 89.9 (d),71.4 (t), 69.4 (t), 61.6 (t), 39.7 (t), 39.4 (t), 29.0 (t), 28.1 (t),23.6 (t). LC-MS (ES and CI): (−ve) m/z 446 (M−H⁺); (+ve) m/z 448 (M-H⁺),470 (M+Na⁺).

Synthesis of Linker sPA LN3 TFA

The alcohol L2 (500 mg, 1.12 mmol) was dissolved in acetonitrile (15mL), then TEMPO (70 mg, 0.448 mmol) was added to it. NaH₂PO_(4.2)H₂O(1.1 g, 7.2 mmol) and NaClO₂ (405 mg, 4.48 mmol) were dissolved in 10 mLof water and added to the reaction. Then NaClO aq. (14.5% availablechlorine, 1.32 mL, 2.24 mmol) was added and the solution turnedimmediately dark brown. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for6 hours. During this time the brown colour faded to orange. The reactionwas quenched with conc. Na₂S₂O₃ aq. until the reaction turnedcolourless. Acetonitrile was evaporated under reduced pressure and thesolution was diluted with 20 mL of water and basified with triethylamine(approx. 1 mL). The solution was extracted with 10 mL of ethyl acetateand the aqueous phase was concentrated under reduced pressure. The crudesPA LN3 TFA was purified by reverse phase chromatography on C18 (lineargradient of acetonitrile in water from 0% to 30%) and isolated as aclear oil (438 mg, 0.95 mmol, 85%). RP-HPLC: t_(R)=17.9 min (0.1 MTEAB/acetonitrile gradient from 5 to 50%, on YMC-C18 analytical column).¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃CN): δ (ppm) 8.03 (br s, 1H, NH), 7.63 (s, 1H, NH),7.54 (s, 1H, Ar), 7.42 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 1H, Ar), 7.34 (t, J=7.9 Hz, 1H,Ar), 7.08 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H, Ar), 5.10 (m, 1H, CH—N₃), 4.35 (dd, J=10.9,3.7 Hz, 1H, CH₂O), 4.18 (dd, J=10.8, 6.1 Hz, 1H, CH₂O), 4.09 (m, 2H,CH₂O), 3.32 (m, 2H, CH₂—NH), 3.27 (m, 2H, CH₂—NH), 3.02 (q, J=7.3 Hz,2H, Et₃N), 1.60 (m, 4H, CH₂—CH₂—NH), 1.39 (m, 2H, CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—NH), 1.21(t, J=7.3 Hz, 2H, Et₃N). ¹⁹F NMR (376.5 MHz, CD₃CN): δ (ppm) −76.5. ¹³CNMR (100 MHz, CD₃OD): δ (ppm) 173.1 (s), 170.0 (s), 159.9 (s), 137.5(s), 131.0 (d), 125.7 (d), 121.4 (d), 119.2 (d), 114.5 (d), 90.8 (d),70.5 (t), 66.7 (t), 41.0 (t), 40 μ.8 (t), 30.2 (t), 29.7 (t), 25.4 (t).LC-MS (ES and CI): (−ve) m/z 460 (M−H⁺). (+ve) m/z 484 (M+Na⁺), 561(M+Et₃NH⁺)

Synthesis of Intermediate L3

The starting material Ll (658 mg, 2.46 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrousDMF (10 mL), then placed under nitrogen at 0° C. in an ice bath.N,N-diisopropylethylamine (544 μL, 2.95 mmol) was added, followed byPyBOP (1.41 g, 2.71 mmol). The reaction was stirred under nitrogen at 0°C. for 20 minutes, then N-(2-aminoethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide,trifluoroacetate salt (796 mg, 2.95 mmol) was added, followed byN,N-diisopropylethylamine (589 μL, 3.2 mmol). The reaction was removedfrom the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Thesolvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue dissolved inethyl acetate (100 mL). The solution was extracted with 3×100 mL ofdiluted KHSO₄ aq. (pH=1), 1×50 mL of water, 2×100 mL of sat. NaHCO₃ aq.The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄ anhydrous and the solvent wasremoved under reduced pressure. The crude was purified by flashchromatography on silica gel (linear gradient of ethyl acetate in DCM,from 50% to 100%) and isolated as a viscous oil (0.91 g, 2.24 mmol,91%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ (ppm) 8.19 (br s, 1H, NH), 7.39 (d,J=1.7 Hz, 1H, Ar CH), 7.38-7.30 (m, 2H, Ar), 7.24 (t, J=5.5 Hz, 1H, ArCH), 7.07 (dt, J=7.2, 2.1 Hz, 1H, Ar CH), 4.84 (t, J=4.9 Hz, 1H, CH—N₃),4.20 (dd, J=10.5, 5.1 Hz, 1H, CH₂—OAr), 4.15 (dd, J=6.0, 4.5 Hz, 1H,CH₂—OAr), 4.00 (ddd, J=10.2, 4.8, 3.0 Hz, 1H, CH₂—O), 3.88-3.79 (m, 2H,CH₂—OH), 3.74 (ddd, J=9.8, 6.4, 3.2 Hz, 1H, CH₂—O), 3.65 (m, 2H,CH₂—NH), 3.58 (m, 2H, CH₂—NH), 2.82 (t, J=5.6 Hz 1H, OH). ¹⁹F NMR (376.5MHz, CDCl₃): δ (ppm) −75.9. LC-MS (ES and CI): (−ve) m/z 404 (M−H⁺);(+ve) m/z 406 (M+H⁺), 428 (M+Na⁺)

Synthesis of sPA2 LN3 TFA

The alcohol L3 (230 mg, 0.567 mmol) was dissolved in acetonitrile (10mL), then TEMPO (35 mg, 0.27 mmol) was added to it. NaH₂PO₄.2H₂O (575mg, 3.68 mmol) and NaClO₂ (205 mg, 2.26 mmol) were dissolved in 10 mL ofwater and added to the reaction. Then NaClO aq. (14.5% chlorine content,0.671 mL, 1.13 mmol) was added and the solution turned immediately darkbrown. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. Duringthis time the brown colour faded to orange. The reaction was quenchedwith conc. Na₂S₂O₃ aq. until it turned colourless. Acetonitrile wasevaporated under reduced pressure and the solution was diluted with 10mL of water, basified with triethylamine (approx. 0.6 mL) and extractedwith 10 mL of ethyl acetate. The aqueous phase was concentrated underreduced pressure. The crude sPA2 LN3 TFA was purified by reverse phasechromatography on C18 (linear gradient of acetonitrile in water from 0%to 20%) and isolated as clear oil (224 mg as triethylammonium salt, 0.43mmol, 77%). RP-HPLC: t_(R)=17.9 min (0.1 M TEAB/acetonitrile gradientfrom 5% to 40%, on YMC-C18 analytical column). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃CN):δ (ppm) 8.52 (br s, 1H, NH), 8.34 (br s, 1H, NH), 7.77 (s, 1H, Ar), 7.49(dt, J=7.7, 1.1 Hz, 1H, Ar), 7.38 (t, J=7.9 Hz, 1H, Ar), 7.10 (ddd,J=8.2, 2.6, 1.0 Hz, 1H, Ar), 5.14 (dd, J=6.7, 3.4 Hz, 1H, CH—N₃), 4.48(dd, J=11.5, 3.4 Hz, 1H, CH₂O), 4.20 (dd, J=11.5, 6.7 Hz, 1H, CH₂O),4.11 (d, J=1.4 Hz, 2H, CH₂O), 3.66-3.42 (m, 4H, CH₂—NH), 3.05 (q, J=7.3Hz, 5H, Et₃N), 1.22 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 8H, Et₃N). ¹⁹F NMR (376.5 MHz, CD₃CN):δ (ppm) −76.3. ¹³C NMR (101 MHz, CD₃CN): δ (ppm) 173.1 (s), 166.9 (s),157.6 (s), 135.7 (s), 129.3 (d), 120.0 (d), 118.0 (d), 117.0 (s), 112.1(d), 88.4 (d), 68.8 (t), 67.6 (t), 45.1 (t), 39.2 (t), 38.4 (t), 7.5(q). LC-MS (ES and CI): (−ve) m/z 418 (M−H³⁰ ).

General Synthesis of pppT-sPA and pppT-sPA2

The linker (sPA-LN3-TFA or sPA2-LN3-TFA, 0.089 mmol) was coevaporatedwith 2×2 mL of anhydrous N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF), then dissolved in2 mL of anhydrous DMF. N,N-diisopropylethylamine (33 μL, 0.178 mmol) wasadded, followed by N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-O-(N-succinimidyl)uroniumtetrafluoroborate (TSTU, 32 mg, 0.106 mmol). The reaction was stirredunder nitrogen at room temperature for 1 hour. In the meantime, anaqueous solution of the triphosphate PA-TTP (0.1 mmol) was evaporated todryness under reduced pressure and resuspended in 300 μL of 0.1 Mtriethylammonium bicarbonate (TEAB) solution in water. The linkersolution was added to the triphosphate and the reaction was stirred atroom temperature for 18 hours. Then, the solvent was evaporated underreduced pressure and the residue dissolved in 1 mL of methanol and 3 mLof aqueous ammonium hydroxide 33%. The solution was stirred at roomtemperature for 7 hours, then evaporated to dryness. The crude waspurified by preparative scale RP-HPLC using a YMC-Pack-Pro C18 columneluting with 0.1 M TEAB and acetonitrile. pppT-sPA: Yield: 67%. RP-HPLC:t_(R)=16.9 min (0.1 M TEAB/acetonitrile gradient from 5% to 35%, onYMC-C18 analytical column). LC-MS (ES and CI): (−ve) m/z 922 (M−H⁺), 461(M−2H⁺). pppT-sPA2: Yield: 65%. RP-HPLC: t_(R)=17.5 min (0.1 MTEAB/acetonitrile gradient from 5% to 30%, on YMC-C18 analyticalcolumn). LC-MS (ES and CI): (−ve) m/z 880 (M−H⁺), 440 (M−2H⁺).

General Synthesis of pppT-sPA-Fl and pppT-sPA2-Fl

A fluorophore carboxylate (Fl, 0.0105 mmol) was coevaporated with 2×2 mLof anhydrous N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF), then dissolved in 2 mL ofanhydrous N,N′-dimethylacetamide DMA. N,N-diisopropylethylamine (15 μL,0.084 mmol) was added, followed byN,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-O-(N-succinimidyl)uronium tetrafluoroborate (TSTU,0.012 mmol). The reaction was stirred under nitrogen at room temperaturefor 45 minutes. In the meantime, an aqueous solution of the triphosphatepppT-sPA or pppT-sPA2 (0.084 mmol) was evaporated to dryness underreduced pressure and resuspended in 300 μL, of 0.1 M triethylammoniumbicarbonate (TEAB) solution in water. The fluorophore-NHS ester solutionwas added to the triphosphate and the reaction was stirred at roomtemperature for 18 hours. The crude was purified by ion-exchangechromatography on DEAE-Sephadex (gradient from 0.1 M TEAB to 1 M TEAB,with 20% acetonitrile) and by preparative scale RP-HPLC (YMC-Pack-ProC18 column, eluting with 0.1 M TEAB and acetonitrile).

General Synthesis of N-(aminoalkyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide

Tert-butyl (aminoalkyl)carbamate (48 mmol) was dissolved in anhydrousDCM (60 mL) and placed in an ice bath under nitrogen. Triethylamine (103mmol) was added, followed by trifluoroacetic anhydride (53 mmol)dropwise. The reaction was removed from the ice bath and stirred at roomtemperature for 1 hour. The reaction was diluted with 200 mL of DCM andextracted with 2×200 mL of sat. aq. NaHCO₃. The organic phase was driedover MgSO₄ anhydrous and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crudewas purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (petroleumether/ethyl acetate 3:7).

tert-butyl (5-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)pentyl)carbamate (n=5): ¹H NMR(400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ (ppm) 6.40 (br s, 1H, NH), 4.49 (br s, 1H, NH), 3.30(q, J=6.8 Hz, 2H, CH₂—NH), 3.06 (q, J=6.6 Hz, 2H, CH₂—NH), 1.56 (p,J=7.2 Hz, 2H, CH₂₋CH₂—NH), 1.45 (p, J=7.0 Hz, 2H, CH₂₋CH₂—NH), 1.37 (m,9H, CH₃), 1.31 (m, 2H, CH₂₋CH₂—CH₂—NH).¹⁹F NMR (376.5 MHz, CDCl₃): δ(ppm) −75.8.

tert-butyl (2-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)ethyl)carbamate (n=2): ¹H NMR(400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ (ppm) 7.72 (br s, 1H, NH), 4.86 (br s, 1H, NH), 3.39(m, 2H, CH₂—NH), 3.31 (m, 2H, CH₂—NH), 1.38 (s, 9H, CH₃). ¹⁹F NMR (376.5MHz, CDCl₃): δ (ppm) −76.1.

tert-butyl (2-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetamido)alkyl)carbamate (44 mmol) wasdissolved in anhydrous DCM (40 mL) and trifluoroacetic acid (40 mL). Thereaction was stirred at room temperature, open to air for 1 hour. Thevolatiles were removed under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolvedin water and extracted with 50 mL of DCM, then the aqueous phase wasevaporated to dryness. The residue was coevaporated with 100 mL ofethanol and 4×100 mL of acetonitrile.

N-(5-aminopentyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide (n=5): ¹H NMR (400 MHz,d₆-DMSO): δ, (ppm) 9.44 (br s, 1H, NH), 7.75 (br s, 3H, NH), 3.17 (q,J=6.7 Hz, 2H, CH₂—NH), 2.77 (m, 2H, CH₂—NH), 1.57-1.45 (m, 4H,CH₂-CH₂—NH), 1.29 (m, 2H, CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—NH).¹⁹F NMR (376.5 MHz, d₆-DMSO):δ (ppm) −74.4,-74.7.

N-(2-aminoethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide (n=2): ¹H NMR (400 MHz,d₆-DMSO): δ (ppm) 9.58 (br t, 1H, NHCO), 8.04 (br s, 3H, NH), 3.45 (m,2H, CH₂NHCO), 2.98 (m, 2H, CH₂NH). ¹⁹F NMR (376.5 MHz, d₆-DMSO): δ (ppm)−74.0,-74.4.

Example 2 Use of Short-Pendant Arm Nucleotide Triphosphates in SBSSequencing

The sequencing performance of the short pendant arm nucleotides wascompared against that of standard SBS nucleotides, which contained thesame fluorescent groups on a standard cleavable linker. Four shortpendant arm nucleotides (two As, C, T) labelled with fluorophoressuitable for 2-channel SBS sequencing (FIG. 3), and dark G were includedin a solution comprising a DNA polymerase and incorporation buffer andused in either a 2-channel modified Hiseq® or 2-channel modified Miseq®to sequence on two reads of 150 cycles each. The sequencing metrics(e.g. phasing, prephasing, percentage error rate and percentage Q30)were compared between experiments carried out using either all fourshort pendant arms nucleotides or all standard nucleotides, under thesame conditions (e.g. incorporation temperature, incorporation time,polymerase, template library). The results are shown in FIGS. 4A-4C andFIGS. 5A and 5B.

FIGS. 4A-4C demonstrate an example of the sequencing metrics (phasing,prephasing, % error rate, % Q30) observed with the standard and theshort-pendant arm nucleotides on a 2-channel modified Hiseq®, using 50°C. incorporation temperature and 10 seconds incorporation time, and withtwo different polymerases (PolA and PolB) and two different templatelibraries (PhiX and human). When the short pendant arm nucleotides wereused, a reduction in phasing and % error rate and an increase of % Q30was observed, independently on the polymerase or template used.

FIGS. 5A and 5B demonstrate an example of the sequencing metrics(phasing and % error rate) observed with either the standard or theshort-pendant arm nucleotides on a 2-channel modified Miseq® at 60° C.incorporation temperature, on a PhiX template, allowing for differentincorporation times.

The short pendant arm nucleotides allowed for an approximate 50%reduction of the incorporation time without a significant impact on thepercentage error rate. At the shortest incorporation time tested(10+5s), the percentage error rate was still <1%, compared to 2.5% errorrate with the standard nucleotides.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound of the formula (I):

wherein B is a nucleoside base; and Fl is a fluorophore attached through an optional linker.
 2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein B is a nucleotide base.
 3. The compound according to claim 2, wherein B is a pyrimidine base.
 4. The compound according to claim 3, wherein the compound is of formula (c) or formula (t):

wherein p is a triphosphate group; and Fl is a fluorophore attached through an optional linker.
 5. The compound according to claim 2, wherein B is a 7-deazapurine base.
 6. The compound according to claim 5, wherein the compound is of formula (a):

wherein p is a triphosphate group; and Fl is a fluorophore attached through an optional linker.
 7. The compound according to claim 2, wherein the compound is attached to an oligonucleotide.
 8. An oligonucleotide labelled with a compound according to claim
 2. 9. A compound of the formula (II):

wherein B is a nucleotide base.
 10. The compound according to claim 9, wherein B is a pyrimidine base.
 11. The compound according to claim 10, wherein the compound is of formula (ci) or formula (ti):

wherein Oln is an oligonucleotide.
 12. The compound according to claim 9, wherein B is a 7-deazapurine base.
 13. The compound according to claim 12, wherein the compound is of formula (ai):

wherein Oln is an oligonucleotide.
 14. An oligonucleotide comprising a compound according to claim
 9. 15. An oligonucleotide comprising two or more copies of a compound according to claim
 9. 16. An oligonucleotide comprising ten or more copies of a compound according to claim
 9. 17. An oligonucleotide comprising one hundred or more copies of a compound according to claim
 9. 18. A kit comprising two or more nucleotides wherein at least one nucleotide is a labelled nucleotide according to claim
 2. 19. The kit according to claim 18, comprising two or more nucleotides wherein at least two nucleotides are labelled nucleotides according to claim
 2. 20. The kit according to claim 18, comprising four nucleotides wherein at least two nucleotides are labelled nucleotides according to claim
 2. 21. Use of a nucleotide according to claim 2, in sequencing, expression analysis, hybridization analysis, genetic analysis, RNA analysis, or protein binding assays, or combinations thereof.
 22. Use of an oligonucleotide according to claim 8, in sequencing, expression analysis, hybridization analysis, genetic analysis, RNA analysis, or protein binding assays, or combinations thereof.
 23. Use an oligonucleotide according claim 14 in sequencing, expression analysis, hybridization analysis, genetic analysis, RNA analysis, or protein binding assays, or combinations thereof. 